650 Get Pfizer Shot With 'Improperly Stored,' Too Cold Vaccine

NEW HAVEN, CT — An investigation is underway after 650 people got Pfizer vaccine doses that the New Haven Health Department had "improperly stored at a colder temperature than normal," leading to concerns about effectiveness. The city began notifying those New Haven residents who were given the suspect dose to be re-vaccinated. All of 650 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were given at the health department's 54 Meadow St. address between Dec. 23, 2021 and Feb. 7, 2022.

Storing vaccine at a colder temperature than advised is a "challenge in vaccination inventory known as temperature excursion," according to news release from the city.

“After consulting with Pfizer and the Connecticut Department of Public Health it was recommended that those who received the improperly stored Pfizer vaccine or booster get re-vaccinated as soon as they can,” city health director Maritza Bond is quoted as saying.

There is no evidence that temperature excursion has caused medical harm, as this has happened in other places throughout the country, and no health issues have been reported, a news release from the city maintained.

Mayor Justin Elicker said that the "issue was identified this week when the Health Department was conducting an inventory of our vaccines."

“Following this notification, action was taken to investigate the issue," he said, adding Bond "immediately reached out" to the state health department and Pfizer.

On Saturday, the city started contacting the people who got the shots via letter, phone, and email addresses "on file" notifying them of the nearest clinic to get re-vaccinated.

Elicker said the city is "reviewing its policies and procedures of vaccine storage, and conducting an internal investigation to identify the cause of this temperature excursion." And, Elicker asked that the state Department of Public Health "assist the city to conduct a review of all policies and procedures related to vaccination storage."

For those who got that shot at the health department in the Dec. 23 to Feb. 7 time, click here to find clinic information to be re-vaccianted.